• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.692-700
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• 2017

The number of elderly citizens has risen in Korea and resulted in an aging society. Correspondingly, the social interest in the aging population has escalated immensely; however, research or product development on the quality of life for seniors has shortcomings. Healthcare smart clothing is required to help the elderly with changes and weaknesses that follow aging; however, there is unfortunately insufficient amounts available. This study explores the feasibilities of smart clothing for seniors based on a universal design. Based on previous research, we analyzed the universal design theory, body shape characteristics and design requirements for seniors, and heart rate measurement method. The design is different according to body shape and body shape is different between sex, age, and body race; therefore, subjects were limited to 70-74 year old Korean males in this study. This study proposes a guideline for heart rate sensing clothing that satisfies the 'universal design' aspects as well as the functionality of heart sensing, senior's physical characteristics and needs. It has broadened the range of smart clothing, which was once limited to the younger generation and provided a foundation for the development of specialized smart clothing for seniors.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.419-426
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• 2008

In order to develop "textile electrode - sensing clothing" which is a sort of smart clothing to measure electric activities of heart, we propose possible ways to develop textile electrode and design of sensing clothing, ultimately aiming to develop "ECG sensing clothing for lifestyle monitoring". Conventional sensors for measuring typical electric activities of heart keep certain distance between measuring electrodes to measure signals for electric activities of heart, but these sensors often cause inappropriate factors (e.g. motional artifacts, inconvenience of use, etc) for monitoring natural cardiac activities in our daily life. In addition, most of textile electrodes have made it difficult to collect data due to high impedance and unstable contact between skin and electrodes. To overcome these questions, we minimized distance between electrodes and skin to maximize convenience of use. And in order to complement contact between skin electrodes, we modified textile electrode's form and developed ways to design clothing. As a result, we could find out clinical significance by investigating possible associations of clinical electrocardiogram (ECG) with variation of distance between electrodes, and could also demonstrate clinically significant associations between textile electrode developed herein and clothing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.118-135
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• 2015

In recent years, smart clothing had been developed in order to better detect and monitor physical movement of the patient, so that such activities such as location identification and biometric recognition could be done. However, most of the sensing devices of smart clothing were limited to smart sensing sports clothing and the designs did not consider the physical characteristics and the behavior of the wearer. Therefore, this study aimed to create an open protection system by developing a wearable sensing device for health monitoring and location information. For this purpose, this study developed eleven types of wearable sensing design that could be commercially sold and worn by people who needed their biological information to be constantly monitored. The study conducted four tests in order to develop three types of sensing devices for various sensing wears. The purpose of this study was to expand the user rang of smart sensing wears, and provide a foundation for the development of distinctive wearable sensing devices reflecting the user. Furthermore, contribute to the design for the person subject to protection.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.694-706
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• 2022

This study focusses on the development of a motion-sensing smart leggings prototype with the help of a module that monitors motion using a fiber-type stretch sensor. Additionally, it acquires data on Electrocardiogram (ECG), respiration, and body temperature signals, for the development of smart clothing used in online exercise coaching and customized healthcare systems. The research process was conducted in the following order: 1) Fabrication of a fiber-type elastic strain sensor for motion monitoring, 2) Positioning and attaching the sensor, 3) Pattern development and three-dimensional (3D) design, 4) Prototyping 5) Wearability test, and 6) Expert evaluation. The 3D design method was used to develop an aesthetic design, and for sensing accurate signal acquisition functions, wearability tests, and expert evaluation. As a result, first, the selection or manufacturing of an appropriate sensor for the function is of utmost importance. Second, the selection and attachment method of a location that can maximize the function of the sensor without interfering with any activity should be studied. Third, the signal line selection and connection method should be considered, and fourth, the aesthetic design should be reflected along with functional verification. In addition, the selection of an appropriate material is important, and tests for washability and durability must be made. This study presented a manufacturing method to improve the functionality and design of smart clothing, through the process of developing a prototype of motion-sensing smart leggings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.427-440
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• 2020

This study developed a vest prototype capable of monitoring body temperature using textile electrodes to prevent the sudden death of babies as well as to determine the quality of developed products by evaluating usability with commercial products. Based on the results of the 7th Size Korea Project, a basic pattern for a vest prototype was drafted by applying the average size of two-year-old Korean babies. Two prototypes were the detachable (VEST I) and integrated textile electrodes vest type (VEST II), which followed the same design. The materials were 100% cotton single jersey (SJ) and double jersey (DJ). Six experts evaluated the usability of the developed vests (VEST I & VEST II) and commercial product (VEST M). The single-layer woven textile electrode appeared to have a slightly higher conductivity than the double-layer one. There was no statistical difference in the body temperature sensing function between VEST I and VEST II. Finally, the superiority of the VEST I was verified through a comparison with commercial products (VEST M). The usability test suggested that a wearable smart clothing system of the integrated conductive textile could be further commercialized for bio-monitor applications in Ubiquitous-health care.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.467-474
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• 2010

Recently, Study of functional clothing for Vital sensing is focused on reducing artifact by human motions, in order to enhance the electrocardiogram(ECG) sensing accuracy. In this study, considering the factors for each element found from the analysis, a 3-lead electrode inside textile embroidered with silver yarn was developed, and draft designs off our types of vital-signal sensing garments, which are 'chest-belt typed' garment, 'cross-typed' garment 'x-typed' garment and 'curved x-typed' garment, were prepared. The draft designs were implemented on a sleeveless male shirt made of an elastic material so that the garment and the electrodes can remain closely attached along the contour of the human body, and the acquired data was sent to the main computer over a wireless network. In order to evaluate the effects caused by body movements and the ECG-sensing capability for each type in static and dynamic states, displacements were measured from one and two dimensional perspectives. ECG measurement evaluation was also performed for Signal-to-noise ratio(SNR) analysis. Applying the experimental results, the draft garment designs were modified and complemented to produce two types of modular approaches 'continuous-attached' and 'insertion-detached' for the ECG-sensing smart clothing.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.844-853
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• 2015

Recently, according to change of lifestyle and increase of concerning in health, needs of the smart clothing based on the vital sign monitoring have increased. Along with this trend, smart clothing for ECG monitoring has been studied various way as textile electrode, clothing design and so on. Smart clothing for ECG monitoring can become a comfortable system which enables continuous vital sign monitoring in daily use. But, smart clothing for ECG monitoring has a weakness on artifact during motion. One of the motion artifact caused by shifting of the electrode position was affected skin change by motion. The aim of this study was to suggest electrode locations for clothing of ECG monitoring to reduce of motion artifacts. Therefore, change of skin surface during the movement were measured and analyzed in order to find location to minimize motion artifacts in ECG monitoring clothing by 3D motion capture. For the experiment, the subjects consisted of 5 males and 5 females in their 20' with average physique. As a result, the optimal location for ECG monitoring was deducted under the bust line and scapula which have least motion artifact. These locations were abstracted to be least affected by movement in this research.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.369-378
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• 2015

Various forms of wearable bio-signal monitoring systems have been developed recently. Acquisition of stable bio-signal data for health care purposes needs to be unconscious and continuous without hindrance to the users' daily activities. The garment type is a suitable form of a wearable bio-signal monitoring system; however, motion artifacts caused by body movement degrade the signal quality during the measurement of bio-signals. It is crucial to stabilize the electrode position to reduce motion artifacts generated when in motion. The problems with motion artifacts remain unresolved despite their significant effect on bio-signal monitoring. This research creates a foundation for the design of garment-type wearable systems for everyday use by finding a method to reduce motion artifacts through modular design. Two distinct garment-type wearable systems (tee-shirt with a motion artifact-reducing module (MARM) and tee-shirt without a MARM) were designed to compare the effects of modular design on the measurement of heart activity in terms of electrode position displacement, signal quality index value, and morphological quality. The tee-shirt with MARM showed superior properties and yielded higher quality signals than the tee-shirt without MARM. In addition, the tee-shirt with MARM showed a better repeatability of the heart activity signals. Therefore, a garment design with MARM is an efficient way to acquire stable bio-signals while in motion.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.529-542
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to utilize technology as basic data for smart clothing product research and development. This technology can recognize user's motion according to characteristics types and functions of wearable smart clothing products. In order to analyze the case of motion recognition products, we searched for previous research data and cases referred to as major keywords in leading search engines, Google and Naver. Among the searched cases, information on the characteristics and major functions of the 42 final products selected on the market are examined in detail. Motion recognition for smart clothing products is classified into four body types: head & face, body, arms & hands, and legs & feet. Smart clothing products was developed with various items, such as hats, glasses, bras, shirts, pants, bracelets, rings, socks, shoes, etc., It was divided into four functions health care type for prevention of injuries, health monitor, posture correction, sports type for heartbeat and exercise monitor, exercise coaching, posture correction, convenience for smart controller and security and entertainment type for pleasure. The function of the motion recognition smart clothing product discussed in this study will be a useful reference when designing a motion recognition smart clothing product that is blended with IT technology.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.97-108
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to propose a product planning and design direction for smart fitness wear that will improve the impact of personal training based on researching the requirements of smart fitness wear and its acceptance level, as well as the functional demand. The study conducted in-depth interviews with professional fitness trainers and derived five categories and thirteen keywords by analyzing the categorical data analysis using the interview data. In addition, we surveyed general consumers to measure the acceptance level of smart fitness wear and the functional demand for product development. The results revealed that the difference in the acceptance level of smart fitness wear generally depended on the characteristics related to exercise involvement and exercise-related culture rather than on the demographic characteristics. With regard to the difference in the functional demand of smart fitness wear, the results showed that professional trainers focused on the scientific improvement of the effect of exercise while general consumers focused on the function that considers the sustainability of exercise. Based on the results, we proposed product planning and design directions such as 'mounting of heart rate sensing, muscle activity sensing, motion angle or posture sensing, and motion sensing', 'development of concepts and contents for expert line, ordinary line', 'compression wear design', and 'differentiation of product development according to exercise areas'.